Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-27
THE UNION DEPOT PROJECT.
The Propositions Of the n. and q. Com.
pany.


rHEr no NOT WANT TRACKS ON llrH STREET EAST
rnR CHANGES THEY PaoposE TO NaxE-rnkY WANT
10 KEEP TIE METROPOLITAN BRANCH TRACKS IN rak
CITY FOR FREIGHT PURPOSES
On the ed instant number OF residents @, East
Washington sent the District Commissioners CON-
munication protesting against the consideration OF
any suggestion having in view the location OF sny
steam railroad tracks on nth street east. To-day
sne commissioner reply thereto was sent 20 Mr..
Marceilus Howser. The Commissioners say In
their letter that the matter viii receive due atten
zion, out add that the proposition as heretofore
promulgated was 10 construct a tunnel under the
street and not railroad on the street,
FIRST PROPOSITION or THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO.
In his letter 70 the Commissioner dated sep.
tember %, Col II. T. Douglas, CHIEF engineer Of
the Baltimore and Ohio, said: "From what have
gathered from the discussions TO this point the
main object has been TO get our line north OF the
CAPITOL under the crossing OF Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. anu on Oh MOTH capitol street. and that these
being renewed removed the principal objections
To accomplish this Col. Douglas submitted the fol.
lowing proposition for a new line:
about 600 feet north OF the Boundary crossing and
swing II into 2d street cast at the Boundary;
follow "a street east 70 point at "a street east
curve TO the right, into Virginia avenue at
point about opposite the Intersection OF Virginia
avenue and Half street east: thence follow ylr-
ginia avenue, and locate the Union station either
where the present Passenger station OF the b. and
Is located or on the property south OF Virginia
south and 9Th and 10th streets west Then con-
meet the Washington Branch OF the Baltimore and
ONO Win inc 2d-street line by curve TO the
left, beginning at L street north and "a street
east, and coming into the ID street tangent, near
street north, and I'd street east This line
would go into tunnel at I'd street east and street
north, crossing Massachusetts, avenue In tunnel,
and continue In tunnel TO street south, and the
crown OF the arch OF the tunnel would be feet
~ q a. EAs GnA nj AnA
I'd street. The tracks OF the Washington Branch
would be removed from their present passenger
depot TO the crossing OF ana Sd street east tax
ing them on OF Delaware and MASSACHUSETTS,
avenues and North capitol street"
The Metropolitan Branch tracks along LIST street
Douglas recommends should be left as they are for
use as freight tracks 10 communicate with the
yards OF private parties who have established
their business along this line
COL DOUGLASS SECOND COMMUNICATION
On october 8 Col Douglas wrote the Commission
ers another letter In reference TO the matter lie
said that in submitting the above plan h wanted
the Commissioners 10 bear I'm mind that he does
not object TO the removal or the tracks OF the
Washington branch and OF the Metropolitan
branch from the present streets between boundary
street and the terminus OF these lines provided the
wobranches are connected north OF and near 70
Boundary street, and the two lines occupy I'd
street from Boundary street south To the Gnion
passenger station, aud also that the Commission
ers afford the Baltimore and Ohio proper facilities
their tunnel Col. Douglas says that ''the rights
OF people who have built up large business along
our present washington and Metropolitan
branches, between Boundary and L street north,
should receive careful consideration, and that
those tracks remaining on the streets as freight
tracks only. between Boundary street and street
north would be OF great value and convenience 10
the people OF that section OF s1e city,"
The Commissioners were asked TO bear I'm mind
also, that II changes OF location Of passenger and
freight stations are TO be made that such changes
shall require the Baltimore and Ohio, Baltimore
and Potomac, and southern lines to be located In
common passenger station, and that the Balti-
timore and OHIO be given the right TO reach and
cross the Long Bridge.
DON'T WANT TO USE 1lrH STREET.
Colonel Douglas then continued: "we
shall be obliged TO object 70
any route which lengthens our lines as suggested
by the 9th or 18th street lines the effect Of which
would be TO occupy the streets for a greater dis
lance than by our proposed line, would lengthen
our lines materially, add very large costs 70 our
construction and require OF us a tunnel OF nearly
two miles In length" The letter was concluded
by request for a hearing on the subject.
The Commissioners replied, as stated in THE
STAR, that they would be pleased 10 give Col.
Douglas the hearing before submitting their report
TO the Senate committees
WHAT COMMISSIONER LUDLOW SAYS.
Commissioner Ludlow, who returned from Phil
adelphia to-day. said to STAR reporter, In REFER
ence TO the above matter, that naturally the ran.
road oficials would look out for their own inter-
cstS and those OF the stockholders OF the road
first; but whether the commissioner aftef
going over the whole ground Will be able TO pay
the desired attention 10 those objections is mat
ter which remains TO be decided by the board II
is a matter which the Commissioners will care
fully investigate and report upon In the1r
communication TO the Senate committee. After
this has been done it remains for Congress TO de-
eide which plan Is the best Col. Ludlow said that
In considering the subject the Commissioners Will
be guided IN arriving at their final decision
by The need or railways for commercial purposes
&c. He said that the Commi sstoners are not anita
gOniS,c TO the railroads. and In order tOcrlpple
them, the Commissioners may have 70 make snne
compromises. In this case, as in many Others, the
needs or an individual must give way 20 those Of
the public. He said that he Is encouraged TO be-
lieve That the Commissioners will reach some
rinal conclusion OF the matter that will be ON the
whole satisfactory 10 all